Applying to University
UCAS and Personal Statements
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What, why, how and…
What: UCAS: handles apps for all full-time first degree HE courses
(million and a half apps for 40,000 courses at 325 institutions)
Why: Saves time for colleges AND you; aids good practice
How: Single application form giving five choices; APPLY online
…When?
• June to Sept
• 15th October
• 15th January
• Nov to March
• Jan to April
• End of April
• August
• October
• Research & Shortlist
• Deadline for Med, Dent, Vet Science & Oxbridge
• Deadline for most other degrees
• Decisions made (including interviews)
• Admissions Days
• Decision time on where to accept
• Confirmation & Clearing
• Start of the academic year
The application form
The key areas of the application form are:
Qualifications: both those taken and those pending
Personal Statement: Interest in, commitment to, and
understanding of your chosen discipline
Evidence of relevant experience (if appropriate)
Reference: Your teacher/tutor‟s opportunity to talk about
your suitability to the course/university
What Makes a Successful
Application?
• Grades
• Well rounded student
• Active inside and outside the
classroom
• Voluntary work
• Evidences skills and qualities
• Relates skills and qualities to the
degree
What are we looking for?
There is no set formula for a perfect applicant
Everything is (generally) taken into consideration
Academic ability
Intellectual curiosity & understanding the course
Extra curricular activity
Work experience
References
Things to consider
When choosing the university/course
Rankings – ALL types!
Reputation and specialist research areas
Entry tests (LNAT, BMAT, UKCAT, HAT, Oxbridge specific)
Interviews
Emphasis put on PS and references
Points, grades, flexibility, A*, GCSEs
Extra curricular availability
Location/campus/size
Cont...
Things to consider
When choosing the university/course
Bursaries and scholarships
Links with industry/work placements
Employability
Resits
„Soft‟ subjects
Course structure and learning
Optional extras (majors/minors, field trips)
The timing of your application
Good grades are NOT enough
Your grades are important,
But the personal statement is what sets you aside from
everyone else:
Your PS is what makes you different to someone else who
may have the same qualifications
(This is your first and often only impression on the university, so
make it count!)
The Facts
• You have 4,000 characters (47 lines) to make yourself stand out
• There is no standard style for a personal statement
• Everyone is different, so every personal statement is, too
• Admissions staff will read up to a hundred PER DAY
• You are judged on everything from style to spelling,
relevance to enthusiasm
• YOUR personal statement should be about YOU, YOUR
passions, YOUR aspirations and YOUR experiences
Things to include
Although not exhaustive, you should think
about the following:
• What course do you want to study?
• What interests you about it?
• How well suited are you to the subject?
• How are your current studies related to the course?
• Are you conscientious, hardworking and committed?
• How will you show enthusiasm for the course?
• What hobbies, Do you have any career plans that
are related?
• Experiences and interests do you have and how are
they related?
How do I start it?
Politics...
„At university I want to study politics‟
„They say money makes the world go round, so if
politicians control our budgets, do they rule the world?‟
„Stalin, Hitler, Thatcher, Marx, Blair – all, allegedly, were
politicians.‟
„Whether we like, or even realise it, politics influences the
entire world. If we want an opinion on it, I believe we have
a responsibility to understand it.‟
„My passion for politics began when...‟
„“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Roosevelt
realised in order to make change, you have to try...‟
Things to remember
• DOs
• DON’Ts
• Do remember this is a personal
statement
• Don’t plagiarise, generalise,
exaggerate or lie!
• Do discuss with your teachers,
friends and family how you can
improve your PS
• Don’t rely upon your first draft –
work and rework!
• Do describe your experiences and
what they represent (summer
schools, work experience etc)
• Do give reasons for your choices
rather than just enjoying the subject
• Do make links between your
choices, your hobbies and your
aspirations
• Do use examples of your skills and
qualities and landmark events
• Do be concise and structured
• Do be creative and interesting
• Don’t mention the university
specifically
• Don’t rely on MS spellchecker
• Don’t just list your achievements
without using examples of their
benefits
• Don’t refer to pre-GCSE experience
• Don’t discuss problems that may
affect your ability to stay the course
• Don’t repeat yourself, waffle or use
irrelevant information
Structure
• There is no formal structure for a personal statement, but generally…
• 70/30 split between the course and why you have chosen it
And
• Information about yourself and your abilities
• Example structure:
• P1: Subject intro, how I made my decision and my interests in the subject
• P2: What other related stuff I‟ve done and my career aspirations
• P3: Skills and qualities I have related to the course, using examples
• P4: Other information about me interests hobbies etc (try to relate them to the
subject and the skills you have)
• P5: Conclusion. Sum up what I have to offer and why I should be chosen
Main Points To Take Away From
Today…
1) Make sure you understand the
course or area you‟re applying for.
2) Describe what interests you have
in the subject area – show the
tutors you like their subject too!
3) Explain what experience you have
had of the subject area.
4) Start on a positive and uplifting
note and show enthusiasm.
5) Don‟t mention one specific
University - you are applying to 5
different places.
And……ADVICE!
Perhaps make a list of all the skills
wanted for the courses you are
applying for to find the common skills
required. Talk to friends!
Think about what you have done in the
past – socially and academically– that
have involved the necessary skills.
Then talk about those points/events
and say what you did, what you learnt
and how it relates to the course and
your desire to study the area further.
Conclude positively; if you are the
right candidate – make them see it!
Post application
What to expect
• Each university makes an individual decision on your application
• You may receive interview invites or news from the universities
• Reply times vary for many reasons
• UCAS sends official news of each decision as they happen (check „Track‟)
• Applicant accepts one firm and one insurance offer
• Opportunity to apply for accommodation, bursaries/scholarships etc
• No offers? Enter Extra (apply to other universities with spaces for offers)
• Examination results published
• Automatically accepted or entered for Clearing (ringing around for spaces)
And remember…
If a university turns you down at
application stage – and your
application really is the best it
can be – don‟t be disappointed.
The best university for you is the
one that will recognise your
qualities and give you the
chance to improve.
If you knew it all, you wouldn’t
need to go!
Contact
www.sussex.ac.uk
Student Recruitment Services,
Sussex House, University of Sussex,
Falmer, Brighton BN1 9RH
T 01273 876787
E ug.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk
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